MI To Issue Licenses To Illegal Immigrants Brought To US As Children

Thousands of children of illegal immigrants in Michigan are now eligible for a driver’s license or official state I-D.

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Secretary of State Ruth Johnson today (Fri.) reversed a policy that denied them licenses despite their status as legal residents.

More from The Michigan Public Radio Network's Rick Pluta.

The American Civil Liberties Union went to court to demand a change in Michigan’s policy. The state was one of just a handful that said illegal immigrants’ children who were not born in the U-S could not get a license. These are people who were brought to the U-S when they were 16 years old or younger. They range in age from 15 to 31. Last year, U-S immigration policy was changed to allow this group temporary legal residency. And this was supposed to allow these young people to lead normal lives, go to school, get a job.

Johnson says a review of new federal guidelines convinced her to change the policy. The temporary licenses will expire after two years.